Fast Lane: Digital Dealer 2011 Booth

ADP Digital Marketing/Cobalt wins a 2011 Pinnacle Award

On Friday, ADP Digital Marketing/Cobalt won a 2011 Pinnacle Award at the Automotive Website Awards (AWA) hosted by PCG Marketing at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. The Pinnacle Award is the highest recognition possible, according to PCG President Brian Pasch. Pasch stated, “Pinnacle Platform winners deliver outstanding digital marketing platforms for car dealers and show an unprecedented attention to detail in live production.”

Pasch elaborated on the dramatic enhancements to ADP Digital Marketing/Cobalt’s digital solution in the printed awards book, saying, “The biggest surprise of this year is the improvements delivered by the new ADP|Cobalt website platform. The design and engineering team at ADP|Cobalt made a strong investment in their website platform that we recognize and reward with their inclusion in the search marketing award list.
The ADP|Cobalt digital marketing platform is rapidly expanding and includes products and services that cover social media, reputation management and enhanced analytics…The dramatic changes in site architecture that have been completed this year are impressive.”

Greg Meyer, Vice President of Technology for ADP/Cobalt responded to the win, saying “I would like to thank our dealer partners who have provided input and review of our new solutions, their insight has been instrumental. This recognition is a significant milestone on the merger of The Cobalt Group and ADP Digital Marketing and a reflection of what is to come as we continue to gain momentum with our ground breaking digital marketing solutions.”

Read the full announcement from PCG Marketing here.

Bringing the Party to Seattle

"Who knew there was such a thing as human foosball?"

"Who knew there was such a thing as human foosball?"

“Who knew there was such a thing as human foosball?  And who knew ADP Digital Marketing Services associates would be so good at it?”

Monique LaFollette, an instructor on the Learning and Development team, has had a few new experiences in her eight weeks here, but the “tailgate party” for the entire Seattle-based Services organization has to be a highlight so far.  From Account Advocates who work proactively with our customers to website builders, from search engine experts to managers, everyone was invited to shut down their laptops and put their phones on hold to have some fun outside nearby Pyramid Alehouse.

It was the first such gathering since the Services team moved from the Lynnwood office to the new office in downtown Seattle.  Everyone was encouraged to wear their favorite sports team colors, and the festivities included lots of excellent food, root beer on tap, a push-and-pull variation on basketball…and yes, human foosball.

Don’t believe us? That’s OK, we’ve got the pictures to prove it.

Monique, ready to rumble!

Monique, ready to rumble!

Monique, one of the Services organization’s newest members, was there to see it all.

“Every player (and observer) I saw was cheering – and smiling – and pretty much going for it in a full-throttle way. Within minutes, most contestants (even the ones wearing flip-flops, and even the ones who’d just ingested their body weight in brats, burgers, and beverages) were mastering some pretty fine foosball skills – bank shots, lobbed balls, and back-passes to members of their team. Who could have predicted such agility? Who could have foreseen such sporting tenacity?”

Getting a little help from your friends isn't against the rules...right?

Getting a little help from your friends isn't against the rules...right?

“Emotions (and heart rates) were definitely running high as the scores crept toward the cutoff point in the inflatable arena. Watching my co-workers fiercely focus, yanking on their tethered lines while positioning themselves in creative manners to get their toe on the bouncy rubber ball quicker than the opposing team, it was clear that everyone was agreed on one thing: we’re here to have fun, and we’re here to WIN. No matter what it takes!”

“It’s pretty cool, having been here just two months, to see the culture of this organization show up in a crazy game of human foosball. From what I’ve observed, this spirited sense of “can-do” and creative partnership isn’t something unique to the foosball arena. It’s part of who we are. I’ve listened to it in huddles, I’ve seen it play out in meetings, and I’ve watched it as people help each other solve problems on the job. We work hard, we get creative, and we have fun doing it – even if it makes us sweat a little.”

Sports jerseys were the dress code of the day (not strictly enforced, though).

Sports jerseys were the dress code of the day (not strictly enforced, though).

“In fact, a lot of what I saw at the Services tail-gate party isn’t an uncommon sighting in the office: lots of fun, a lot of laughter, lots of mingling, and a very pronounced amount of sports jerseys…especially the sports jerseys.”

“I can’t wait until the next off-site event! I’m already hungry.”

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Fast Lane: Cobalt’s First Dealer Appreciation Party

Last Tuesday, Cobalt hosted its first-ever Dealer Appreciation Party. The packed house included a fun mix of Cobalt / ADP Digital Marketing executives, dealers, employees, industry influencers, and press. Attendees enjoyed colorful speeches including a Cobalt history lesson from 15-year employee and Vice President of Social Media Matt Muilenburg, a glowing Cobalt testimonial from Auburn VW dealer Matt Welch, and an update from Chief Marketing Officer Chris Reed. The entire crowd was treated to dazzling views, delicious food and drinks and delightful conversation at Cobalt’s downtown Seattle headquarters. Auburn VW dealer Matt Welch won a trip to Digital Marketing Strategies Conference, Arun Vaidyanathan of Brotherton Cadillac took home an iPad, and Jay LeClair from Smokey Point Buick GMC won Seahawks tickets. The inaugural event provided the perfect kick-off to the Seattle PCG Pitstop the next day. Thanks to all who attended, and stay tuned for future events!

Check out the video too!

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